GB2590431A

GB2590431A - A backpack vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2590431A
Application number: GB1918638.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Staves Lee; Abry Zeke; Andrew Keeley Dominic
Original assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Current assignee: Scot Young Research Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Also published as: GB201918638D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a back mounted vacuum cleaner. It comprises a backpack section 20 which contains the fan, an elongate tubular wand 30 with a cleaning head 80 disposed at the distal end and a dust collection container 90 at the proximal end. A hose 40 connects the wand to the backpack. Optionally the vacuum cleaner is powered by a battery. The wand may comprise a handle 92, further the distance between the handle and the end of the wand may be adjustable. The dust collection chamber may comprise a removable bag or alternatively may be of a bagless design with a removable wall portion allowing for emptying of the chamber. Preferably the dust collection chamber may comprise a transparent window. The backpack section may comprise two straps 62. Preferably these straps may be adjustable.

Description

A BACKPACK VACUUM CLEANER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backpack vacuum cleaner, and in particular, to a backpack vacuum cleaner providing greater ease of use.

Background of the Invention

Back mounted vacuum cleaners, typically known as backpack vacuum cleaners, are commonly used in commercial cleaning applications, such as the cleaning of aircraft and public transport vehicles. These applications require a relatively fast turnaround, and offer the vacuum cleaner operator limited room to manoeuvre due to narrow aisles. A backpack vacuum cleaner is usually preferred to floor bound vacuum cleaners because they allow the user to be more agile and do not need to be continuously repositioned, as with floor bound vacuum cleaners, resulting in faster cleaning.

Backpack vacuum cleaners typically include a backpack portion including a fan and a dust collection bin, a cleaning wand including some form of cleaning head, and a vacuum hose connecting the backpack portion to the cleaning wand such that a suction force generated by the fan is provided to cleaning head. Some backpack vacuum cleaners are cordless and include a battery in the backpack portion.

It has been found that using a backpack vacuum cleaner reduces the need for a user to bend over, which causes strain on the user's body. Furthermore, the increased speed of cleaning allowed by use of a backpack vacuum cleaner reduces the cost of cleaning, as less time is required.

However, some problems exist with current backpack vacuum cleaners. For example, when the dust collection bin becomes full, the user must remove the backpack portion from their back and empty it. Said backpack portions typically include several tight fitting straps to secure the backpack portion to the user's back.

Furthermore, as the dust collection bin is filled in use, the weight of the backpack portion increases. A backpack portion including a full dust collection bin, a fan and a battery may be too heavy for some users. Therefore, the dust collection bin may require emptying before it is full, to keep the weight at an acceptable level, resulting in the user having to remove the backpack portion more often.

Objects and aspects of the present invention seek to alleviate at least these problems with prior known backpack vacuum cleaners.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a backpack vacuum cleaner comprising: a backpack portion comprising a fan; a wand comprising an elongate tube having a first end and second end in fluid communication with the first end, a cleaning head positioned at the first end, and a dust collection container; and a hose arranged between the second end of the elongate tube and the backpack portion such that a suction force generated by the fan is provided to the cleaning head via the hose.

A key advantage of the present invention is that providing the dust collection container on the cleaning wand, which is readily accessible to the user's hands, means there is no need to remove the backpack portion to empty the dust collection container. Furthermore, the weight of the backpack portion of the present invention is independent of the fill level of the dust collection container.

The backpack portion may be a portion of the backpack vacuum cleaner that is intended to be worn on a user's back. However, some users may prefer to wear the backpack portion on their front, rather than their back. The backpack portion may include a portion intended to be worn on both the user's front and back simultaneously.

The fan may comprise an electric motor. The fan is operable to provide a suction force to the cleaning head. Accordingly, the fan may be in fluid communication with the cleaning head. Air may flow through the cleaning head, the elongate tube, the hose, and the fan before being exhausted back into the room. The air may be filtered or otherwise cleaned before it is exhausted. The backpack vacuum cleaner may therefore comprise at least one filter configured to filter the airflow. The dust filtered from the airflow may be stored in the dust collection container.

The wand may be a handheld portion of the backpack vacuum cleaner. The wand may be manipulated by the user to clean an area. The elongate tube may be linear. The elongate tube may be rectilinear. The elongate tube may comprise a first portion and a second portion relatively angled, which may provide a more ergonomic wand, or may allow for the cleaning head to be pushed underneath an object such as a desk without the user needing to bed or lower their arm. The elongate tube may be a solid-walled, thin-walled cylindrical tube. The first end being in fluid communication with the second end may mean that an airflow is able to pass from the first end, through the elongate tube, to the second end.

The cleaning head may be a dry cleaning head. Alternatively, the cleaning head may be a wet cleaning head, wherein water or another cleaning fluid is supplied to the area to be cleaned by the cleaning head. The cleaning head may be adjustable for use on different surfaces, such as carpet or hard floors. The cleaning head may comprise a motorised brush bar. The brush bar may rotate or otherwise agitate the surface being cleaned. The cleaning head may include a replaceable portion, or may be entirely replaceable with another cleaning head, such as a crevice tool.

The dust collection container may be a vessel in which dust entrained in the airflow from the cleaning head in collected and stored.

The backpack vacuum cleaner may be cordless. The backpack portion may comprise a battery. In this way, a user may not be inconvenienced by a power cable tethering the backpack vacuum cleaner to a power outlet.

The wand may comprise a handle. In this way, the cleaning head may be easily manipulated by a user. A distance between the handle and the first end of the elongate tube may be adjustable. A taller user may require a greater distance between the handle and the cleaning head than a shorter user. An inclination of the handle relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tube may be adjustable. The longitudinal axis of the elongate tube may pass from the first end to the second end of the elongate tube. Accordingly, the backpack vacuum cleaner may be adjusted to be more comfortable for the user.

A control panel, buttons, or any other apparatus capable of allowing the user to control operation of the backpack vacuum cleaner may be provided, and may be provided adjacent to the handle, on the backpack portion, on the elongate tube, on the cleaning head, on a strap, and/or on the hose. A screen may be provided to show an indication of the operational state of the backpack vacuum cleaner. A screen may be provided adjacent to the handle, on the elongate tube, on the hose, and/or on the backpack portion. The screen may be touch operable and may comprise the apparatus capable of allowing the user to control operation of the backpack. The screen may display presently chosen settings, an indication of battery charge level, an indication of the time remaining before the battery is drained, and/or any other indicator that may be useful to the user.

The dust collection container may be provided on the cleaning head. In this way, the weight of the dust collection chamber and its contents may be supported by the floor, in use, reducing the strain on the user's arm.

Alternatively, the dust collection chamber may be provided on the elongate tube.

The handle may be positioned adjacent to the dust collection chamber. In this way, the weight of the dust collection chamber and its contents may be supported by the user's arm. Furthermore, positioning the dust collection chamber is this way may allow for easier emptying of the dust collection chamber, as it is close to the user's hand. The handle and the dust collection chamber may be positioned at the second end of the elongate tube.

The backpack portion may comprise two straps. The backpack portion may be configured such that, when worn by a user, equal portions of the mass of the backpack portion are supported via each of the two straps. In this way, a centre of mass of the backpack portion may be centralised, reducing strain on a user. The straps may be adjustable in length to allow a centre of mass of the backpack portion to be repositioned relative to a user, in use. In this way, a user may select the most comfortable configuration of the backpack portion.

The dust collection container may comprise a removable portion. Removing the removable portion may allow for dust collected within the dust collection container to be removed. In this way, the dust collected may be emptied. The removable portion may comprise a bag. Dust collected in the dust collection container may be stored within the bag. In this way, the dust collection chamber may be emptied by removing the bag. Alternatively, the backpack vacuum cleaner may be bagless. The removable portion may form a portion of a wall of a chamber in which dust is collected. In this way, no replacement bags need to be provided.

The dust collection container may comprise a transparent portion such that a fill level of the dust collection container is visible, in use. In this way, a user is able to see when the dust collection chamber needs to be emptied.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the use of the backpack vacuum cleaner of any one preceding claim in a cleaning process.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is perspective schematic view of a backpack vacuum cleaner in use and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the dust container and the handle shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a backpack vacuum cleaner 10 in use. The backpack vacuum cleaner 10 includes a backpack portion 20, a handheld wand and a vacuum hose 40 connecting the backpack portion 20 to the wand 30.

The backpack portion 20 includes a housing 50 which is generally cuboidal in shape and is sized to fit comfortably on a user's back. The housing 50 contains a battery, an electric fan and associate electronic circuitry (all not shown). The fan generates an airflow through the backpack vacuum cleaner 10. The housing 50 includes five exhaust slots 52 through which the airflow generated by the fan is exhausted. The exhaust slots 52 are shown to be provided on a mid-region of a side of the housing 50, but other arrangements of exhaust ports are envisaged. The housing 50 also includes, on a lower surface thereof, a port 54 to which the vacuum hose 40 is attached. The airflow generated by the fan flows from the vacuum hose 40, through the port 54 and out of the housing 50 via the exhaust ports 52. The vacuum hose 40 is flexible and extendable in length due to its concertina-like structure.

The housing 50 is mounted on a back harness 60. The back harness 60 includes two shoulder straps 62 and a midriff strap 64. The straps 62, 64 releasably secure the housing 50 to the users back and spread its weight evenly such that prolonged use may not cause fatigue or back pain.

The wand 30 includes a rectilinear elongate tube 70. The vacuum hose 40 is attached to an upper end of the tube 70, and a cleaning head 80 is provided at a lower end of the tube 70. The cleaning head 80 includes an opening in its lower surface (not shown) through which dust extracted from a surface passes. A dust container 90 and a handle 92 are provided at the upper end of the tube 70. A filter (not shown) is associated with the dust container 90. The filter removes some or all of the dust entrained within the airflow through the backpack vacuum cleaner 10 and the dust is then deposited in the dust container 90. The dust container 90 and the handle 92 are discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 2.

To operate the backpack vacuum cleaner 10, the user activates the fan (not shown) which causes an airflow through the backpack vacuum cleaner 10. Air enters the backpack vacuum cleaner 10 through the opening in the cleaning head 80 and passes through the elongate tube 70. The filter (not shown) removes some or all of the dust entrained within the airflow, and the dust is deposited in the dust container 90. The airflow exits the elongate tube 70 and enters the vacuum hose 40. The airflow passes through the vacuum hose 40 to the housing 50, and is eventually exhausted through the exhaust ports 52. The air exiting the housing 50 is cleaner than the air entering the cleaning head 80.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view 100 of the dust container 90 and the handle 92 shown in Figure 1. The handle 92 is positioned on a top side of the elongate tube 70, and the dust container 90 is positioned on a lower side of the elongate tube, directly opposite the handle 92. The dust container 90 includes a transparent outer housing 94. The transparency of the outer housing 94 allows a user to see the fill level of the dust container 90, such that they know when it needs to be emptied. The dust container 90 also includes a mechanism (not shown) for emptying the dust contained within.

The handle 92 depends from the tube 70 at an angle of approximately 70° relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube 70, and has a length of approximately 100mm such that it is longer than the width of the user's hand.

Claims

CLAIMSB 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.A backpack vacuum cleaner comprising: a backpack portion comprising a fan; a wand comprising an elongate tube having a first end and second end in fluid communication with the first end, a cleaning head positioned at the first end, and a dust collection container; and a hose arranged between the second end of the elongate tube and the backpack portion such that a suction force generated by the fan is provided to the cleaning head via the hose.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the backpack vacuum cleaner is cordless, and the backpack portion comprises a battery.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the wand comprises a handle.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein a distance between the handle and the first end of the elongate tube is adjustable.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein an inclination of the handle relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate tube is adjustable.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the dust collection container is provided on the cleaning head.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dust collection chamber is provided on the elongate tube.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 7, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 3, wherein the handle is positioned adjacent to the dust collection chamber.
The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the handle and the dust collection chamber are positioned at the second end of the elongate tube.
10. The backpack vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the backpack portion comprises two straps and is configured such that, when worn by a user, equal portions of the mass of the backpack portion are supported via each of the two straps.
11. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the straps are adjustable in length to allow a centre of mass of the backpack portion to be repositioned relative to a user, in use.
12. The backpack vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the dust collection container comprises a removable portion, and removing the removable portion allows dust collected within the dust collection container to be removed.
13. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the removable portion comprises a bag, and dust collected in the dust collection container is stored within the bag.
14. The backpack vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the backpack vacuum cleaner is bagless, and the removable portion forms a portion of a wall of a chamber in which dust is collected.
15. The backpack vacuum cleaner of any preceding claim, wherein the dust collection container comprises a transparent portion such that a fill level of the dust collection container is visible, in use.
16. Use of the backpack vacuum cleaner of any one preceding claim in a cleaning process.